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Radagast-Aiwendil
Gondor
Jul 25 2013, 8:19pm
Post #1 of 28
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Owning-up time: Who here cried when Gandalf fell?
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This, for me, is by far the most memorable moment of both Tolkien's books and PJ's films.
I just remember sitting down with my parents aged seven, watching this "film they thought I would like". Turned out the film (the books I read later on), shaped a large amount of my life. Gandalf came on screen and in the space of two hours I grew to love this character more and more: I didn't know why, but he connected with me in a way that no other fictional character had done before, and even aged seven I was able to understand the wisdom in his words-a character so mystical and yet so human. I'd always been intrigued by wizards and magic (as many young boys are), but Gandalf as a character spoke to me on an entirely different level.
...And then he fell. I could not believe it. I felt completely and utterly crushed. The weight of his sacrifice emphasized through the power of Shore's music, combined with the emotions of the actors was too much for me. For better or worse, I've cried more for Gandalf than I have cried for any family member.
Of course, then he came back, and I was more than over the moon. But even when I read that passage in the book, after seeing the film, the tears came streaming down my face. I've never felt quite that way again.
Did anyone else here ever feel that way about Gandalf's fall, either when reading about it or watching it?
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."-Gandalf
(This post was edited by Radagast-Aiwendil on Jul 25 2013, 8:25pm)
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Barrow-Wight
Rohan
Jul 25 2013, 9:50pm
Post #2 of 28
(995 views)
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I sometimes do but it's when seeing the Fellowship cry about it in the movie. here's another question: after seeing AUJ does his death have more impact for you?
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Ataahua
Superuser
/ Moderator
Jul 26 2013, 12:14am
Post #3 of 28
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I did in the book, but not in the movie.
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The only movie scene that brings tears to my eyes (well actually, I outright cry) is the Ride of the Rohirrim. "Death! Death!"
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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Radagast-Aiwendil
Gondor
Jul 26 2013, 8:41am
Post #4 of 28
(944 views)
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Of course having read all the books has given the death more of an impact, though I've read the books and seen the films so many times over the years that it's all fairly normal now.
Gandalf as portrayed by McKellen just keeps getting better as a character the more we see him, in my opinion. It was good to see a bit more of the wandering conjuror side of Gandalf on screen in AUJ, i.e. the bits of his character that are hinted at the beginning of FotR. The Good Morning scene, along with other parts such as the exchange between him and Dori over wine, demonstrated a much lighter side of his personality which is mostly absent from LotR (although there is a fair bit of it in FotR). Of course, he also had moments of being the guardian of Middle-earth (such as the White Council scene), and sagacious moments evocative of the exchange between him and Frodo in Moria-I like the fact that Gandalf's words prevent Bilbo from killing Gollum in the film, an act which ultimately saves Middle-earth.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."-Gandalf
(This post was edited by Radagast-Aiwendil on Jul 26 2013, 8:42am)
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Elenorflower
Gondor
Jul 26 2013, 10:32am
Post #5 of 28
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some for joy some for sorrow.
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Jul 28 2013, 1:18pm
Post #6 of 28
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Even though I knew it was coming...
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I was devastated when he fell and with the aftermath of the Fellowship. The music, the body language, the tears... devastating. Cripes, I'm tearing up just sitting here thinking about it.
HOWEVER, that fall led to one of the BEST openings to a film I've ever seen with for TT. *goosebumps* Yep... there's the awe again... just thinking about it.
Gad I love these films!
4th draft of TH:AUJ Geeky Observation List - May 1, 2013
"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West."
I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!
TIME Google Calendar
TORn's Geeky Observations Lists (updated soon)
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Patty
Immortal
Jul 28 2013, 6:09pm
Post #8 of 28
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I did cry when I first read the book, many, many years ago.
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of course, I knew he was coming back when the movies came out. But that didn't stop me from tearing up--it was so well done.
Permanent address: Into the West
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CuriousG
Half-elven
Jul 28 2013, 11:56pm
Post #9 of 28
(857 views)
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I'm a guy, and we're not supposed to cry, but I'll admit I came pretty dang close when I saw the movie in the theater. It's silly, because I'd read the books repeatedly and had no doubt that he really died, but it didn't matter. The whole sequence is handled brilliantly, and it still whacks me in the face every time I watch it. I just about lose it when I see Merry & Pippin lying on the ground clutching each other in tears, probably because they've been irrepressibly jolly and carefree up to this point.
Rather oddly, Frodo's tear-streaked face doesn't do anything for me, and it never seems wholly authentic. The book-Frodo found Sam crying next to him as they ran for their lives, then Frodo realized he was crying too. You can't project Frodo's thoughts that way in a movie, of course, but if it weren't for M&P, I'm not sure I'd feel the grief the same way. The other actors contribute too, of course. Aragorn may be stoic about it, but you can sense the mourning in him. It's a great part of the movie that does justice to Gandalf's character.
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cats16
Valinor
Jul 29 2013, 12:08am
Post #10 of 28
(848 views)
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That still did, does, and will always make me cry. The despair on the Fellowship's faces really do it, too. And the music...
Ugh, I'm getting a little teary thinking about it, lol. 
Gandalf also speaks to me in a way that, really, no other character does. I love how he has been portrayed, and will cherish all adaptations dearly.
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Nimloth
Lorien
Jul 29 2013, 4:38am
Post #11 of 28
(856 views)
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I still do now. 
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Starling
Half-elven
Jul 29 2013, 9:57am
Post #12 of 28
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Hey Nimloth - long time no see! :-) //
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RosieLass
Valinor
Jul 29 2013, 7:03pm
Post #13 of 28
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My first reaction was mystification. "Why did he just let go?"
Having the Balrog actually drag him down by the whip twisted around his ankles would have made much more sense.
"BOTH [political] extremes are dangerous. But more dangerous are team fanboys who think all the extremists are on the OTHER side." (CNN reader comment)
It is always those with the fewest sensible things to say who make the loudest noise in saying them. --Precious Ramotswe (Alexander McCall Smith)
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Misto
Lorien
Jul 29 2013, 8:38pm
Post #14 of 28
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... I was so terribly tired the first time, I watched FotR, that by the time Gandalf fell I really only ever cared about my bed.
Note to self: do not watch a three-hour-movie with friends when you got up at 5am (on a weekend, mind), did sport all day, and only just came back home at about 7pm when your friends invite you over. I was hardly able to keep my eyes open. Thank God, aforementioned friends made me watch the other two movies as well (this time a lot more awake). I might not ever have ended up as a fan, otherwise. All I remembered about FotR was that I tried to watch a really long movie that didn't make much sense to my tired mind.
(This post was edited by Misto on Jul 29 2013, 8:38pm)
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One Ringer
Tol Eressea
Jul 30 2013, 4:19am
Post #15 of 28
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I can't say he's made me cry ... during that sequence...
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but during the Grey Havens (book/movie a like) I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of loss (in a good way). Gandalf just has that way of making the most disheartening feel most uplifting of all. 
Stigmata Script, a bastion for aspiring writers - http://stigmatascript.com/
"You do not let your eyes see nor your ears hear, and that which is outside your daily life is not of account to you. Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all; and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain."
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Luinnár
Rivendell
Jul 30 2013, 9:50pm
Post #16 of 28
(802 views)
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I was too little to understand, but now I do cry a little.
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Jul 30 2013, 10:46pm
Post #17 of 28
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when the hobbits are grieving and Aragorn is trying to get them up. I'm always susceptible to other people's grief.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories
leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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RosieLass
Valinor
Jul 31 2013, 3:06pm
Post #18 of 28
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Plus the visuals and music of that scene are just wrenching.
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That piercing almost keening solo is one of my favorite (of many many favorite) bits in the soundtrack.
"BOTH [political] extremes are dangerous. But more dangerous are team fanboys who think all the extremists are on the OTHER side." (CNN reader comment)
It is always those with the fewest sensible things to say who make the loudest noise in saying them. --Precious Ramotswe (Alexander McCall Smith)
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sycorax82
Rohan
Aug 1 2013, 9:00pm
Post #19 of 28
(780 views)
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I think Gandalf realises he has to let go to fight the Balrog
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That isn't the case in the book, obviously, seeing as he has no choice but to be dragged down to the depths. No matter what, Gandalf has to defeat that Balrog. It would have re-emerged on Sauron's side later on.
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Loresilme
Valinor
Aug 2 2013, 12:10pm
Post #20 of 28
(742 views)
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A short history of my reactions :)
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The very first time I watched FOTR, when Gandalf fell, I was so stunned, I don't even know if I cried. But then when I was in the phase of watching the films over & over again, I would cry at this scene. Then when I got to the phase of having watched them so many times I no longer cried at this (and other) scenes, I knew it was time to take a break from watching the films. Even though I still discussed them on the boards here, I didn't watch them for quite a while. Then after *not* watching the films for a very long time (several months, maybe a year), I watched them again and found that I cried all over again.
The solo piece here, and the way the reactions of the various characters are shown are just so beautifully done, and so sad. It starts before they even emerge into the sunlight - I start crying when I see the expression on Aragorn's face and in his eyes, when he keeps looking back at the chasm, wanting to go back and finally having to flee. That look in his eyes gets to me every time. Then when they are outside crying, and Frodo is stumbling off somewhere as if he doesn't know or care where, when he turns he looks so childlike, it brings to my mind that he's lost his parents, he's lost Bilbo, and now he's lost Gandalf. *tears*
So, yes I did cry and I find that when I go long stretches without watching it, I tear up all over again.
Thank you for sharing your own history with the films. I am so amazed that at the age of seven, you could appreciate them! When your parents thought you might like them, they must have seen that you were already a wise and perceptive little wizard yourself, even at that young age :-).
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Radagast-Aiwendil
Gondor
Aug 2 2013, 6:21pm
Post #21 of 28
(727 views)
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Thank you also for sharing yours :-)
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Being such a massive fan of the books and films, I love to hear about the effect that Tolkien's work (in the general sense of that phrase) has had on people's lives and how it has shaped their perceptions/views.
Thank you also for your kind words in the last paragraph of your post. Truly you are too kind!
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."-Gandalf
(This post was edited by Radagast-Aiwendil on Aug 2 2013, 6:27pm)
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Elwen
Lorien
Aug 2 2013, 7:48pm
Post #22 of 28
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When I read it, stunned silence, but no tears.
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I was 11, and I remember thinking, that couldn't possibly have just happened. I was completely shocked. Kudos to my Tolkien fanatic mom who never let it slip, so I had no idea it was coming, or that the return was coming later. (Even more impressive given that Gandalf is her favorite character, and it never came up.)
Before kids, exercising with LOTR meant listening to the soundtrack while I ran.
After kids, exercising with LOTR means having an all out dance party with the little ones to the "Break the Dam Release the River" disco mix form the Lego game.
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MaeBeth
Bree
Aug 8 2013, 5:32pm
Post #23 of 28
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So yah, stunned, angry tears came. I'd never read the books before, so I didn't see it coming. And I agree completely with what CuriousG said
When you have Bilbo as your best friend, there're two phrases I personally like to use:
"It's you & me against the world Buddy. We attack at dawn."
"Come Burglar Boy, to the Hobbitmobile!" *ki-click*
*Insert Hero Theme Music Here
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Ziggy Stardust
Gondor
Aug 9 2013, 1:09am
Post #24 of 28
(676 views)
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When I first saw the films, and saw Gandalf fall, I was stunned. I think my reaction was the same as the Fellowship's.
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Madril
Registered User
Aug 13 2013, 9:04pm
Post #25 of 28
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I did indeed cry, both reading and watching!
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The moment in the film is very well handled I think. I love all of the different reactions of the others-Aragorn trying to hold the group together even though he is clearly devastated, Boromir's sympathy towards the others ("Give them a moment, for pity's sake!"), Legolas' look of disbelief, the outright tears of Sam, Merry, Gimli and Pippin, and the heart-wrenching cries from Frodo. This moment, coupled with Ian McKellen's performance, really do justice to the Grey Wizard.
"He's one of them Rangers, dangerous folk they are wandering in the wild."-Barliaman Butterbur
(This post was edited by Madril on Aug 13 2013, 9:06pm)
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Made me jump a bit when I read that bit Gramma!
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